CAROLINA SHORES — The north end of Brunswick County put their draft State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) list in place in December and the south end of the county is readying their STIP this month.

LELAND — Leland commissioners met Thursday, Jan. 8 to review items they intend to pursue in the new year.

The workshop resulted from a review of goals the town board created during a March 2014 long range planning retreat in Surf City.

Town Manager David Hollis presented town board members with a population estimate putting Leland close to 17,000 residents. Hollis said an official count from 2013 put Leland at 16,022. But at the start of 2015, it is about 16,800.

BOLIVIA — Sheriff John Ingram seized an opportunity to outfit his deputies with another resource that would help his staff put criminals behind bars.

Ingram and the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office recently purchased 90 body cameras that deputies — including special operations staff — and Brunswick County Detention Facility officers will wear beginning in the middle of February, Ingram said.

Drug agents have arrested a Shallotte duo on multiple drug charges after searching their Main Street residence Saturday, Jan. 10.

Agents with the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office Drug Enforcement Unit arrested 28-year-olds Evan James Coleman and Heather Sheri Bland face several drug charges after a search warrant was conducted at Coleman and Bland’s house on Main Street in Shallotte, according to a Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office news release.

An area businessman and founder of an educational management company has filed a defamation lawsuit against former Brunswick County Schools Superintendent Edward Pruden seeking $100,000 in damages.

Baker Mitchell, founder of Roger Bacon Academy (RBA), filed suit Jan. 6 against Pruden in New Hanover County Superior Court. RBA has four charter schools in the region, including two in Brunswick County.